Ranked on lab data
Best tennis strings forarm comfort
Elbow, wrist or shoulder soreness. Every one of 783 currently-produced strings carrying the measurements this ranking needs was scored against it — these are the 15 that came out on top, capped at two per brand so gauge variants of one string cannot fill the list.
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 99% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 99% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 99% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 97% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 95% of the database
- Softer than 99% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 95% of the database
- Softer than 98% of the database
- Livelier than 99% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 96% of the database
- Softer than 95% of the database
- Livelier than 92% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 88% of the database
- Softer than 93% of the database
- Livelier than 88% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 95% of the database
- Livelier than 88% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 90% of the database
- Softer than 94% of the database
- Livelier than 96% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 83% of the database
- Softer than 96% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 72% of the database
- Softer than 88% of the database
- Livelier than 97% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
The same ranking, without gut
Nine of the 15 above are gut, which is an honest result and an unhelpful page — it wins this ranking outright and costs several times what anything else does. Ruled out before scoring rather than penalised during it, so the fit percentages below stay honest about what is left.
- Softer than 92% of the database
- Livelier than 96% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 98% of the database
- Softer than 95% of the database
- Livelier than 92% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 88% of the database
- Softer than 93% of the database
- Livelier than 88% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 95% of the database
- Livelier than 88% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 90% of the database
- Softer than 94% of the database
- Livelier than 96% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 83% of the database
- Softer than 96% of the database
- Livelier than 98% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 72% of the database
- Softer than 88% of the database
- Livelier than 97% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 99% of the database
- Softer than 94% of the database
- Livelier than 86% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 84% of the database
- Softer than 91% of the database
- Livelier than 90% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 92% of the database
- Softer than 97% of the database
- Livelier than 84% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 74% of the database
- Softer than 91% of the database
- Livelier than 96% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 82% of the database
- Softer than 92% of the database
- Livelier than 88% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 89% of the database
- Softer than 95% of the database
- Livelier than 93% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 65% of the database
- Softer than 93% of the database
- Livelier than 81% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 90% of the database
- Softer than 92% of the database
- Livelier than 92% of the database
- Holds its tension better than 76% of the database
What "arm comfort" is actually ranked on
- Stiffness ↓ lower decisive
- Energy return ↑ higher light
- Tension loss ↓ lower light
Softest string beds first. Energy return is weighted up so the result is soft and lively rather than soft and dead, and tension loss down because a bed that drops tension fast turns boardy long before it breaks.
Each string is scored on where it sits in the database on each measurement above, never on an absolute figure, so the ranking is always relative to what actually exists. How these numbers are made →
Make this specific to your racquet
This page ranks the database on the need alone. String pattern, head size and frame stiffness each move the answer, and a stiff frame removes the firmest quarter of the database outright rather than merely ranking it down — the finder applies all of that and shows you which picks changed as a result.
Ranked for something else
- More spin and shape Heavier topspin, more margin over the net
- More control, less launch The ball is flying long on you
- More power and depth You are working too hard for pace
- Plays the same for longer It goes dead a week after stringing
- Lasts longer before it breaks You are snapping strings too often
- Best feel and touch Volleys, slice, drop shots, feedback